Sales display unit



Jan. 10, 1967 TRIPP ET AL 3,297,381

SALES DISPLAY UNIT Filed Sept. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 10, 1967 L. H. TRIPP ETAL SALES DISPLAY UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 2, 1964 mm 7 V0 wf I WM Q w m T M M United States Patent 3,297,381 SALES DISPLAY UNIT Lewis H. Tripp, 3468 Bonita Ave., Riverside, Calif.

92506, and John R. Weinberger, 182 W. Madrona, and

Thomas O. Wheatley, 526 N. Oakdale, both of Rialto,

Calif. 92376 Filed Sept. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 393,947 6 Claims. (Cl. 312234.1)

The present invention relates to apparatus for sales display units, and more particularly has reference to such apparatus composed of interconnecting units of a plastic display unit that improves displayability, decreases waste of highly perishable merchandise, and decreases the amount of bacteria and odor caused by the collection of blood and grease in relatively hard to clean places in display units.

In the past it has been found necessary to use labeling apparatus that extends in a direction for partially covering the view of customers of meat products being dis played. Also it has been found difficult to adequately provide a cover means or shroud or other such means to more adequately protect the meat and its degree of freshness while the meat is not being exhibited for sale such as overnight and on holidays and weekends.

The present invention therefore is directed to apparatus for improving the quality of the display of meat, and also to provide protection means for the displayed meat at the times it is not being displayed.

The present invention seeks to provide an arrangement of adjustable shelves in the sales display unit for allowing additional levels of display, and thereby to provide adaptability in displaying meat of various configurations in size and bulk. Thus whether there is displayed a large quantity of merchandise or a small amount, the top of the merchandise displayed is always in a constant relative position by adjustment so that the entire display case is neat, level, full, and presents a thoroughly attractive appearance. In accordance with the apparatus of the invention, there is provided a plastic front on the unit which will substantially decrease the possibility of the merchant touching the inside of the display window thus leaving a bloody or greasy smear that is undesirable to the merchant as well as to the customers. The price tag that is used provides sufficient information to the customer so that the customer will not need to point to the product being inquired about.

The invention clearly provides a display unit which requires displaying only about 6 to 8 pounds of perishable merchandise per unit, and making it possible to build a neat, attractive display, whereas most past methods of display have made it necessary to cut and display about pounds of perishable merchandise per display unit. This has been found to decrease the normal 3% shrinkage which is present in fresh meat after cutting, as well 4 as make it possible to have freshly cut merchandise daily.

Another feature and advantage of the invention is that the display unit has been designed by meat cutters who understand the requirements of health, sanitation rules, sales engineering, and the destructive effects due to circulation of air over bacterial growth in the bottom of display cases which are caused by drippage of blood and juices from the merchandise displayed. The unit of the present invention provides a leak proof container, so that all or substantially all meat juices are caught in the bottom and can be quickly and easily removed and cleaned before a substantial amount of bacteria begins to grow and causes unpleasant odors.

The object of the invention is to accomplish the features that have been described above. The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description "ice portion of a sales display unit in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side cross-sectional elevational view of the sales display unit of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view showing the perspective relationship of the various components of the apparatus of the sales display unit;- 1

FIGURE 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the sales display unit taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 shows a sheet or shroud for covering the meat when applied to the screws or pins of the'sales display unit shown in FIGURE 3, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a sales display unit 10 in a meat or produce sales counter 12, in which the sales display unit is comprised of a generally elongated base member 14, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, having an upstanding side wall member 16, 16 along each side of the length dimension of the base member. The base member 14 may be made integral with the upstanding side members 16, 16 when these elements are made of plastic or other suitable material.

A plurality of generally parallel grooves 20 are provided in and upon the inner side of the side members I16, 16 and are disposed in pairs forming a generally planar relationship parallel to' the base member 14 or may even be slightly inclined so that the planar relationship generally tilts from the back .of the sales display unit toward the front. Toward the front portion of the sales display unit, there are provided vertical grooves 22, 22 so that a front partition 24 may be received in the grooves 22, 22. A plastic slide pan 28 having a recess 30 for receiving meat or other produce products has edges 32, 32 that are capable of being received in a pair of the grooves forming a planar relationship as above referred to. At the rear portion of the sales display unit, there are provided a pair of vertically disposed grooves 36 on the inner surfaces of the upstanding side members 16, 16 for receiving a rear panel 38. The rear panel 38 is about twothirds to three-quarters of the height of the entire sales display unit' The rear panel 38 enables the counter clerk to reach into the sales display unit more easily when the plastic slide pan 28 is on one of the intermediate pairs of parallel grooves 20.

The vertical grooves 22, 22 extend to within about onehalf inch from the bottom of sales display unit to provide a margin within which blood and juices may run off of the meat produce through the opening or orifice 40, shown in FIGURE 2. The recess 30 in the plastic slide pan 28 is sufficiently recessed so that when meat is plattered and put into a walk-in cooler, the pan catches the drainage of blood and juices that may drain from the meat. In each of the partitions or panels 24, 38 there is provided a hand hold 42, 42 for facilitating the insertion and removal of the panels from the sales display unit.

An elevation block 44 is provided to have pegs 46, 46 that fit into openings in the base member 14, and the elevation block provides means for adjusting and assuring the inclined relationship that may be desired in positioning the sales display unit while in use.

The front portion of the sales display unit is disposed in a generally inclined manner, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, and includes track members 50, 52, 54 for receiving plastic price tags and identification sheets 56, 58, as shown in FIGURE 2. The plastic sheet 56 serves to provide identifying information and may be either of a plain color or may contain the name of an advertiser of the meat products, as well as providing day-to-day information to advertise the prouce or even a picture of the produce after it has been cooked and prepared. The sheet 58 is provided with price information, as well as the name of the product being displayed in the plastic slide pan 28.

The upper portion of the corners of the sales display unit are provided with shroud screws or pins 70, 70, 70, 70 which are inserted in holes in each corner of the unit. These screws or pins are adapted to receive and support a sheet or shroud 72, shown in FIGURE 5', having eyelets 74, 74. The eyelets 74, 74 are adapted to be inserted upon the pins 70 when the shroud is sufiiciently stretched to its entire length and hooked thereon. The shroud provides a time saver for the meat cutter or counterman by sutficiently covering andprotecting the meat produce and other products displayed in the sales display unit for protection overnight and over weekends and holidays.

Thus it is seen that a new and improved sales display unit is provided for achieving the purposes and advantages of the invention, and it should be understood that the specific apparatus herein illustrated and described is intend to be representative only, as many changes may-be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims indetermining the full scope of the invention. v

What is claimed is:

1. A sales display unit comprising an elongated base member, an upstanding side member on each length dimension of the base member, a plurality of generally parallel grooves in the inner sides of each side member and disposed in pairs and generally parallel to the base member, a vertical groove at a front portion of the sales display unit in each of the side members thereof, a plastic slide pan having a recess for receiving meat products and having edges thereof to be received in one of said pair of grooves, a further vertical groove at the rear portion of said sales display unit in each of the inner sides of said upstanding side members, a panel inserted in the vertical grooves at the front portion thereof, a short panel disposed in the grooves at the rear portion of the sales display unit, shroud pins in each corner of theupper portion of the sales display unit, and a shroud having eyelets in each of the corners thereof for being received by the shroud pins.

2. A sales display unit comprising an elongated base member, an upstanding side member on each length dimension of the base member, a plurality of generally parallel grooves on the inner sides of the side members disposed in pairs and parallel to the base member, a panel disposed vertically in the front portion of the sales display unit, a plastic slide pan having a recess for receiving meat products and having edges to be received in one of said pair of grooves, said elongated base member and upstanding side members being integrally formed of plastic material, a short panel disposed vertically in the rear portion of said sales display unit, shroud pins disposed at the upper corners of said sales display unit, and a shroud having eyelets for being received upon the shroud pins when in its stretched condition for covering the meat products when not being displayed.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said panels have a hand hold in the upper portion thereof for removal thereof.

4. The invention according to claim 2 wherein an inclined panel is provided on the front portion of said sales display unit upon which may be inserted plastic sheets having price and other identifying information.

5. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said shroud pins are usually inserted in openings in the corners of said sales display unit.

6. The invention according to claim 2 wherein an elevation block having pegs is adapted to be set under the sales display unit, and in which said pegs thereof are capable of being received in openings in the base member thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 891,110 6/1908 Stevens 312234.4 1,423,845 7/1922 Foss 20677 1,432,330 10/1922 Gross 312118 1,469,050 9/1923 Pauk 312117 1,974,234 9/1934 Byrnes 312234 X 2,863,302 12/1958 Morris 312-116 X FOREIGN PATENTS 280,993 12/1927 Great Bn'tain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

A. FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A SALES DISPLAY UNIT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BASE MEMBER, AN UPSTANDING SIDE MEMBER ON EACH LENGTH DIMENSION OF THE BASE MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY PARALLEL GROOVES ON THE INNER SIDES OF THE SIDE MEMBERS DISPOSED IN PAIRS AND PARALLEL TO THE BASE MEMBER, A PANEL DISPOSED VERTICALLY IN THE FRONT PORTION OF THE SALES DISPLAY UNIT, A PLASTIC SLIDE PAN HAVING A RECESS FOR RECEIVING MEAT PRODUCTS AND HAVING EDGES TO BE RECEIVED IN ONE OF SAID PAIR OF GROOVES, SAID ELONGATED BASE MEMBER AND UPSTANDING SIDE MEMBERS BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, A SHORT PANEL DISPOSED VERTICALLY IN THE REAR PORTION OF SAID SALES DISPLAY UNIT, SHROUD PINS DISPOSED AT THE UPPER CORNERS OF SAID SALES DISPLAY UNIT, AND A SHROUD HAVING EYELETS FOR BEING RECEIVED UPON THE SHROUD PINS WHEN IN ITS STRETCHED CONDITION FOR COVERING THE MEAT PRODUCTS WHEN NOT BEING DISPLAYED. 